57 new Troopers will join Louisiana State Police after graduating Thursday Morning. Of that group, five will join Troop I and serve Acadiana.

Cadet class #94 started with 80 cadets on August 30, but not all would earn a badge, 23 didn’t make the cut.

The new troopers will be paired with a veteran for more patrol training over the next year.

Jeffrey Roach, a recent graduate, reflects on his training over the past four months, “It’s indescribable. I graduated from marine boot camp in 1997. I have to say the police academy was harder. You go home on Friday night and come back Sunday night. You get 48 hours, about 48 hours to be with your family and it’s extremely stressful because you know you have the option of staying home. You can stay home if you want and you obviously won’t get this gold boot.”

Law enforcement continues to be in the national spotlight, as well as their relationships with the communities they serve.

Joseph Sam, a Lafayette resident says, “They (law enforcement) are doing what they have to do because they don’t want to fall into the same tracks some police officers have fallen into. They’re going to
do everything by the book to make sure they’re not in that same situation.”

Joshua Thomas another Lafayette resident added, “I think the spotlight is a good thing because light extinguishes darkness. I think right now if someone is deciding to be a police officer I think they’re saying you know I want to be the change I want to see in the world and on the force.”